heart

heart [härt]

n.

[ME herte < OE heorte, akin to Ger herz < IE base * k̑erd-, k̑ṙd-, heart > L cor, (gen. cordis), Gr kardia, OIr cride, Serb sr̈ce]

1.

a) the hollow, muscular organ in a vertebrate animal that receives blood from the veins and pumps it through the arteries by alternate dilation and contraction

b) an analogous part in most invertebrate animals

2. the part of the human body thought of as containing the heart; breast; bosom

3. any place or part like a heart, in that it is near the center; specif.,

a) the central core of a plant or vegetable [hearts of celery]

b) the center or innermost part of a place or region [the heart of a city]

4. the central, vital, or main part; real meaning; essence; core

5. the human heart considered as the center or source of emotions, personality attributes, etc.; specif.,

a) inmost thought and feeling; consciousness or conscience [to know in one's heart]

b) the source of emotions: contrasted with HEAD, n. 2a, the source of intellect

c) one's emotional nature; disposition [to have a kind heart]

d) any of various humane feelings; love, devotion, sympathy, etc.

e) mood; feeling [to have a heavy heart]

f) spirit, resolution, or courage [to lose heart]

6. a person, usually one loved or admired in some specified way [he is a valiant heart]

7. something like a heart in shape; conventionalized design or representation of a heart, shaped like this: ♥

8.

a) any of a suit of playing cards marked with such figures in red

b) [pl., with sing. or pl. v.] this suit of cards

☆ c) [pl., with sing. v.] a card game in which the object is either to avoid winning any hearts or the queen of spades, or to win all the hearts and the queen of spades

vt.

Rare to hearten, or encourage

to hearten, or encourage

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after someone's own heart

that suits or pleases someone perfectly

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at heart

in one's innermost or hidden nature; secretly or fundamentally

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break someone's heart

to cause someone to be overcome with grief or disappointment, often, specif., by rejecting or spurning his or her love or affection

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by heart

by or from memorization

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☆ change of heart

a change of mind, affections, loyalties, etc.

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do someone's heart good

to make someone happy; please someone

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eat one's heart out

to brood or feel keenly unhappy over some frustration or in regret

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from the bottom of one's heart or from one's heart

very sincerely or deeply

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☆ have a heart

to be kind, sympathetic, generous, etc.

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have one's heart in one's mouth or have one's heart in one's boots

to be full of fear or nervous anticipation

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have one's heart in the right place

to be well-intentioned or well-meaning

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heart and soul

with all one's effort, enthusiasm, etc.

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in one's heart of hearts

in one's innermost nature or deepest feelings; fundamentally

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lose one's heart to or lose one's heart

to fall in love (with)

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near someone's heart

dear or important to someone

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set someone's heart at rest

to cause someone to set aside doubts, fears, or worries

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set one's heart on

to have a fixed desire for; long for

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steal someone's heart

to cause someone to feel love or affection

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take heart

to have more courage or confidence; cheer up

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take to heart

1. to consider seriously

2. to be troubled or grieved by

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to one's heart's content

as much as one desires

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wear one's heart on one's sleeve

to behave so that one's feelings or affections are plainly evident

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with all one's heart

1. with complete sincerity, devotion, etc.

2. very willingly; with pleasure

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with half a heart

halfheartedly